Utah Hunting Guide 2026
Complete Utah hunting guide for 2026: seasons, license costs, draw odds, GMU boundaries, bag limits, and regulations. Compare every game species at a glance.
Wildlife Agency
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
Hunter safety course required for first-time buyers
Draw Application Deadlines
| Species | Type | Opens | Deadline | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk | Primary Draw | Jan 28 | Feb 27 | Late Apr |
| Mule Deer | Primary Draw | Jan 28 | Feb 27 | Late Apr |
| Moose | Primary Draw | Jan 28 | Feb 27 | Late Apr |
| Pronghorn | Primary Draw | Jan 28 | Feb 27 | Late Apr |
| Mountain Goat | Primary Draw | Jan 28 | Feb 27 | Late Apr |
| Bighorn Sheep | Primary Draw | Jan 28 | Feb 27 | Late Apr |
| Bison | Primary Draw | Jan 28 | Feb 27 | Late Apr |
Utah Hunting Seasons
Mule Deer
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Rifle | Oct 21 | Nov 5 |
| Archery | Aug 19 | Sep 14 |
| Muzzleloader | Sep 27 | Oct 5 |
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1
Draw-only for all buck deer permits. Bonus and preference point system. Utah manages for trophy quality.
Elk
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Rifle | Oct 7 | Oct 20 |
| Archery | Aug 19 | Sep 14 |
| Muzzleloader | Sep 27 | Oct 5 |
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1
Draw-only. General season spike bull tags easier to draw. Limited entry bull permits very competitive. World-record class bulls.
Turkey
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Shotgun | Apr 20 | May 31 |
| Archery | Apr 20 | May 31 |
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1 (spring)
Merriam's and Rio Grande turkeys. Over-the-counter tags. Growing populations. Fall season also available.
Bear
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Rifle | Apr 6 | Jun 7 |
| Archery | Aug 10 | Sep 14 |
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1
Spring and fall seasons by limited entry draw. Bait and hounds allowed. Growing black bear population.
Moose
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Rifle | Sep 30 | Oct 31 |
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1
Very limited once-in-a-lifetime draw. Shiras moose in northern Utah mountains.
Pronghorn
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Aug 15 | Sep 20 |
| Rifle | Sep 25 | Oct 31 |
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1 per year
Draw-only in most western states
Mountain Goat
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Rifle | Sep 1 | Nov 15 |
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1 per lifetime
Once-in-a-lifetime draw. Extremely limited tags.
Bighorn Sheep
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Rifle | Sep 1 | Nov 30 |
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1 per lifetime (most states)
Extremely limited tags. Once-in-a-lifetime draw.
Mountain Lion
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Fall/Winter | Nov 1 | Mar 31 |
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1 per year
Hound hunting legal in most western states. Quotas apply.
Bison
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Rifle | Nov 1 | Jan 31 |
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1 per draw
Henry Mtns and Antelope Island. Extremely limited.
Planning Tools
- Utah Draw Odds by Unit — success rates for every limited-entry hunt
- Utah Hunt Unit Guides — terrain, tactics, access, and logistics by unit
- Tag-to-Trail Planner — interactive map: public land, harvest records, water, burns
- Hunt Cost Calculator — budget your full hunt cost
- Application Timeline — never miss an application deadline
- Preference Point Tracker — track points across all your states
Utah Hunting Guides
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Utah Black Bear Hunting: Draw Tags, Bait, and the Best Units
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Utah Book Cliffs Elk Hunting: High Desert Bulls on the Colorado Border
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Utah Book Cliffs Mule Deer: The Limited-Entry Unit Worth the Wait
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